2013 Three Minute Thesis Competition

Can you explain the importance of your research in just three minutes?

Suzie Ferrie, the 2011 University of Sydney winner and Australia–New Zealand runner up, with Alan Dench, Dean of Graduate Research School, University of Western Australia.

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a competition for postgraduate research students to present their research topic to an intelligent, non-specialist audience in an engaging way. You will have just three minutes to present a compelling presentation on your thesis topic and its significance.

It's a great way to practice explaining your research to people who are not familiar with your field – skills that will serve you well when applying for funding or engaging media attention.

It's also a fantastic opportunity to meet other students from across the University, hear about their research, and most importantly, have fun!

• How it works
• How to prepare
• Prizes
• Rules (eligibility and judging criteria)

How it works

The 2013 heats will be held in the Education Building A35:

• Monday 12 August, 12.30pm, Education Seminar Room 452
• Wednesday 14 August, 9.30am, Education Seminar Room 452
• Wednesday 14 August, 4.30pm, Education Seminar Room 458

You can tell us your preferred heat time in on the registration form.

heat winners will prgress to the Final. The 2013 Final will be held at Sydney University Open Day & Postgraduate Expo on Saturday 31 August.

How to prepare

• Register for the Presentation skills – how to capture your audience workshop on Thursday 9 May 2013.
• Watch Suzie Ferrie's presentation. Suzie won the competition at the University of Sydney and was runner-up in the National Competition in 2011.
• Read RMIT's comprehensive information and tips for preparing your 3MT presentation.
• Visit YouTube to see past presentations and get some tips.

Prizes

The competition winner will be awarded $2500 to travel to the Australia and New Zealand Three Minute Thesis Competition.

There are also two runner-up prizes of $500 each.

All competitors will receive a certificate acknowledging their participation.

Rules – the fine print!

Eligibility
You must be currently enrolled or under examination (as at the day of the University of Sydney finals) in a postgraduate research degree at the University of Sydney. Enrolment can be on a full-time or part-time basis.

Your Three Minute Thesis presentation

• Only a single static PowerPoint slide can be used during the presentation.
• No animations, transitions, or embedded dynamic media (such as sound or video, etc) are allowed.
• No additional props or instruments are allowed.
• Presentations are limited to a maximum of 3 minutes. Competitors exceeding 3 minutes will be disqualified.

Judging criteria
The adjudicating panel will normally consist of at least three people, who may be members of academic staff, representatives of SUPRA, or external guests. The judges score each presentation out of ten for each of the three following criteria:

1. Communication style
   Was the thesis topic and its significance communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
2. Comprehension
   Did the presentation help the audience understand the research? (Consider clarity of communication, the quality of expression, the structure of delivery ie, intro, body and conclusion.)
3. Engagement
   Did the oration make the judges want to know more?

Scores will be tallied as a judging tool, but the winner shall be based on a panel consensus.